Bobby Hearn - Posted - 12/12/2023:  06:33:24

Hi guys, I’m a pedal steel player looking to get into dobro. Ide like a good one but don’t want to break the bank the bank yet, I don’t know anything about them as far as brands and was wondering if anyone could give advice on what to get that is good enough to play gigs on but not too pricey. A midrange guitar. Thanks!

Lounge Primate - Posted - 12/12/2023:  07:56:46

If you’re going to gig with the guitar, you’ll want to include the Paul Beard nashville spider & Fishman bridge and the Fishman Aura Jerry Douglas pedal as part of your search and budgeting.
Those part will run you $700-$800 (last time I looked). Uninstalled.

There are guitars that come with the nashville bridge and pickup installed, and of course every now and then, a used one pops up.

There are other systems that will work, but if you want the system that is “plug and play”, save yourself the experimentation and get the Fishman system.

The most reliable “single search” professionals are the crew at Paul Beards shop. Even if a Beard guitar is not in your budget, they have by far the most experience in amplifying professional dobro players.

Many great dobro comments available here in the search section. Good luck.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 12/13/2023:  14:18:00

Welcome Bobby. Relatively vast subject - getting into dobro and deciding which guitar and how much to spend. As Brooks mentioned (Lounge Primate - how about adding at least your first name below your "handle" so that I can finally retire having  to "cross reference" every time I refer to one of your posts )  there is a lot of information on the topic in the archives. Search function is the magnifying glass icon on the left side of your screen. 

Short version - one of our members just posted a guitar for sale I wouldn't mind having, link below. Red Line Rambler, a good quality Tennessee-built guitar that won't break the bank. Steve Smith is the owner of the company also known as Cumberland Acoustic, and an unfortunate side story is that Steve's shop in Hendersonville sustained some serious damage in the recent  flurry of tornadoes. 

resohangout.com/classifieds/de...cid=12534

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 12/13/2023:  14:45:03

I just realized that the guitar for sale is at Morgan Music in Missouri. I've never done any business with them myself, but I have heard good things about the company over the years.

Here is a link to the Red Line website - apparently they no longer produce the model which is for sale here, but you can see what the company is all about.

cumberlandacoustic.com/product...truments/

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 12/13/2023 14:56:32

PancakeBillW - Posted - 12/13/2023:  16:53:08

Breaking the Bank is a pretty relative term, what budget will fall into that term for you on this purchase?

Lounge Primate - Posted - 12/13/2023:  17:45:12

Markin-sama

My parole officer said I should never use anything but Lounge Primate.

(you can always just say LP;-)

Edited by - Lounge Primate on 12/13/2023 17:46:14

Bobby Hearn - Posted - 12/14/2023:  09:52:13

Around $1200 range. Thanks for the replies fellers. I kinda like the Regal 52 or 60.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 12/15/2023:  23:03:35

Over the years I have played a fair amount of Regal RD-52 Black Lightnings, and though they have sort of a "catchy" appearance, as a stock guitar you'd find in a store like Guitar Center - they do nothing for me. Hard to describe, but the sound always struck me as being sort of "muffled." There have been examples of players giving them fresh setups and upgraded parts to enhance the sound, but that's not what we're talking about here. We're trying to recommend a guitar to get you playing, and not feeling like you have to dink around with it. 

I wasn't hip to the 60, I found one on Reverb called a 60 and another called a 65 for $1300-$1400. 

But they aren't on the Saga Music site (parent company of Regal). Something seems a little off with that. One of the spiels mentions that the model has something to do with John Quarterman, former OMI Dobro employee back in the day and spinner of Quarterman cones. I believe he is about 83 now. 

More information needed especially for the price. I would steer clear for now. 

For that price you can get a Gold Tone/Paul Beard solid mahogany model. No mention of "solid" before the word mahogany in the Regal spiel. $1400 is a lot of money for a made in China laminate wood reso guitar. 

PancakeBillW - Posted - 12/16/2023:  06:31:49

I would go for the Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature model in just a little over that budget, or find a used one in that budget, I think there was one here recently. I say this because I just bought one used and loving it. Solid mahogany and while built in China, it is set up at Beard before you get it. Used seem to be right in your budget. maybe even a little below.

PancakeBillW - Posted - 12/16/2023:  06:36:23

Just looked, there is a new one on the list at the list price of $1500 and a couple used, but not the solid mahogany model. Look around though they come up.

hlpdobro - Posted - 12/16/2023:  06:37:59

Gold Tone



PBS - Mahogany Laminate

PBS-D - Maple Laminate

PBS-M - Solid Mahogany



All currently set up at Gold Tone (Not Beard) with Beard internal parts.



All highly recommended.



hp

Edited by - hlpdobro on 12/16/2023 06:41:10

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 12/16/2023:  06:42:12

FYI Bill - they haven't been doing final assembly and setups on Gold Tones at Beard in Maryland for some time. 

It's my understanding that Paul and company are too busy trying to keep up with the demand for actual Beard guitars. Just for the heck of it I went to the Resophonic Outfitters site on the  off chance there could be a couple, and there are no Gold Tone/Beard guitars for sale there. I think it's been at least two or three years since the last time they listed any for sale.

PancakeBillW - Posted - 12/16/2023:  06:56:16

I saw they were set up elsewhere, but thought it was still under the Beard supervision. I know mine was but in the intervening years (2007 - 2023), whatever they did, might be a bit diminished with age.

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 12/16/2023:  07:02:59

I personally own a RedLine that was built in 2008.  They are wonderful instruments and that is a great price IMO. 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MarkinSonoma

Welcome Bobby. Relatively vast subject - getting into dobro and deciding which guitar and how much to spend. As Brooks mentioned (Lounge Primate - how about adding at least your first name below your "handle" so that I can finally retire having  to "cross reference" every time I refer to one of your posts )  there is a lot of information on the topic in the archives. Search function is the magnifying glass icon on the left side of your screen. 

Short version - one of our members just posted a guitar for sale I wouldn't mind having, link below. Red Line Rambler, a good quality Tennessee-built guitar that won't break the bank. Steve Smith is the owner of the company also known as Cumberland Acoustic, and an unfortunate side story is that Steve's shop in Hendersonville sustained some serious damage in the recent  flurry of tornadoes. 

resohangout.com/classifieds/de...cid=12534

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MarkinSonoma - Posted - 12/16/2023:  07:42:21

quote:

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Originally posted by PancakeBillW

I saw they were set up elsewhere, but thought it was still under the Beard supervision. I know mine was but in the intervening years (2007 - 2023), whatever they did, might be a bit diminished with age.

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I'm not sure what would constitute "Beard supervision" if they are set up at Gold Tone in Florida. Sure, Paul taught them at some point how it's done, but it's been years since that happened, so it's difficult to know the skill level of the people doing it currently. 

Much more expensive guitars, but it's been a somewhat similar situation with the Nati-horns at National Reso-Phonic here in California. When they took over building Scheerhorns as Tim was edging toward retirement, it could be hit or miss on the setups once they left the small National factory, and there are stories of Tim himself doing aftermarket setups and one might think after hearing it that it could have been one of the guitars he built as a one man operation. 

Though there are exceptions - I was at Gryphon in the Bay Area several weeks ago and played a Rosewood/Spruce Nati-horn which in years past had been the Rob Ickes Signature model (he's no longer affiliated with National) and it was an amazing guitar. Powerful - and loud - it could stand up to any god forsaken banjo! I didn't want to put it back on the hook, but  I never seriously considered buying it, the model goes for $5700 these days. 

Bobby Hearn - Posted - 12/16/2023:  11:00:36

Thanks for the replies. I’ll check out the Beard Gold tone solid mahogany. The only reason I kinda liked the regal is because Tommy White was playing one and it sounded good.